Chapter 36
Briar meowed from her spot atop her fancy cat tower, and I was thankful for the sound. The massive house was entirely too quiet since the guys had left for their Assembly meeting. I still hadn’t learned much about it, but at least they weren’t hiding its existence.
My stomach cramped at the thought of them all cozy with Chloe.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to clear away the thoughts.
Instead, I focused on the good memories.
The ones from today where we’d holed up in the guys’ lounge and caught up on homework.
There’d been snacks and jokes, and it had felt almost… normal.
But it didn’t feel exactly right. Because one person was missing. I wondered how Ronan and the rest of the guys would react if I invited Declan to our next study session. I still wasn’t sure what exactly had gone down with him and Ronan, but I so badly wanted to heal that rift.
Maybe tonight could be the start of that.
I opened the door to my massive walk-in closet and flicked on the light. I still hadn’t been able to bring myself to go through all the clothes. It was too overwhelming. But I needed an outfit, one that made me feel brave.
My fingers ghosted over the rows of fabric, and I nibbled on the corner of my lip. I didn’t have the first clue of what to choose.
I pulled out my phone and tapped out a text.
Me
What do girls usually wear to these parties? Jeans or something fancier?
I stared down at my phone, waiting for a response.
Connor
It’s a Prep party. They go all out.
Me
So…like a dress?
Connor
Designer and the least amount of fabric possible.
I groaned. Not exactly what I was hoping for. Hoochy dresses were never going to be my thing, but I could find something that was me that would still fit in.
Moving to the section of the closet that held the dresses, I began assessing. There were more formal cocktail dresses, long gowns, and finally, chic party dresses. I examined each of them until I stopped on one.
Grinning, I held it up to the light. Perfect.
I quickly found a matching black lace bra and thong and put those on. Then I pulled the stretchy fabric over my head. It covered way more than Connor had suggested, but it hugged my curves perfectly. And when you looked closely, there were rips all over the dress, exposing a lace underlay.
The dress was me. I might be tattered and broken but there was a beauty to it. And it was time for me to own that.
A knock sounded on my bedroom door.
“Come in,” I called as I exited the closet.
“It’s me,” Baldwin said as he entered. “I just wanted to see if you needed any help—”
His words cut off as he took me in.
I squirmed in place. “Is it okay? Not too much?”
Baldwin clasped his hands under his chin. “You look beautiful, Leighton.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“Do you want some help with your hair and makeup?”
My brows rose at that. “You can do that?”
He tossed invisible locks over his shoulder. “Girl, I was made for this mission.”
I laughed. “Good, because I am definitely not.”
Baldwin’s phone buzzed on the counter, and he swiped it up. He pressed his lips together in an attempt to keep his smile at bay, but he failed. “Declan’s here.”
My stomach flip-flopped. We’d heard the other guys arrive home about thirty minutes ago, but Baldwin had refused to let them in my room.
He gripped my shoulders and squeezed. “Ready?”
My mouth went dry. “I’m honestly not sure.”
“Up.” Baldwin helped me rise and turned me toward the mirror.
I blinked as I took in the reflection in front of me.
I never would’ve recognized myself. The dress was only the beginning.
My red hair was curled into wild waves that cascaded over my shoulders and chest. Baldwin had given me a smoky shadow that made my eyes look way larger and the green blaze in them impossibly brighter.
And whatever he’d done to my lips made them look like plump, glossy berries.
My eyes glistened. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Oh, no,” he chided. “There will be no crying. You’ll ruin all my hard work.”
I threw my arms around him. “Thank you for being so kind to me.”
Baldwin answered my hug. “It was my honor.”
A doorbell sounded from downstairs.
“You better get going. I’d hate to have to try to get blood out of the marble floors in the entryway.”
I winced and grabbed my clutch, hurrying from the room.
Voices sounded from downstairs, and I picked up my pace, careful not to go tumbling since I was wearing heels.
The second my shoes sounded on the hardwood, five sets of eyes found me, and everyone froze.
I swallowed but forced myself to keep moving. By the time I reached the bottom of the steps, I wanted to run and hide.
Declan blinked a few times, then stepped forward. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I said, but my voice barely lifted above a whisper.
Dash grinned at me. “Pretty sure I just had a stroke.”
Trace’s eyes swirled and flashed as his jaw locked. “It’s a little much, don’t you think?”
Colt sent a hard elbow into his side. “What he means is that looking as breathtaking as you do, you might get more attention than you’re ready for.”
I licked my suddenly dry lips. For the first time in years, I felt beautiful, and I didn’t want to lose that.
Declan slipped his hand into mine and squeezed. “I’ll be with her. She’ll be fine.”
Ronan’s gaze hardened on his brother. “Because your word is so trustworthy.”
A muscle in Declan’s cheek popped. “More trustworthy than yours.”
“Don’t fight. Please.” I looked between the two of them. “I just want one night where I can pretend to be normal. Just for a little while.”
Ronan stepped forward, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’ll never be normal. You’re far too extraordinary for that.”
Declan glanced over at me as he turned his Mercedes G Wagon onto a gravel road. The headlights from the Range Rover following us with four brooding alpha males inside flashed, illuminating the interior of our vehicle.
Declan’s thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. “You ready for this?”
I grinned at him. “Probably not, but if I hate it, we never have to do it again, right?”
He answered my smile with one of his own. “And we can always leave and go get milkshakes if this is a bust.”
“I’m a fan of milkshakes.”
Declan parked and leaned over to press a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Good to know.”
A shiver ran through me at the same time heat pooled in my belly. It was a potent combination, and I wanted more.
Declan’s eyes bled to silver. “We better go before I maul you in this SUV.”
A laugh burst out of me.
“You’re dangerous, Leighton,” Declan said as he climbed out.
By the time I tried to open my door, Declan was already there, opening it for me. He held out a hand, and I took it gratefully. These heels and gravel would not be a good mix.
Doors slammed from two spots down, and Declan sighed. “Looks like your bodyguards made it.”
I winced. “Sorry about that.”
“Not your fault. I can’t even blame them. I’d want to make sure you were safe, too.” He slid my hand around his arm so that I could steady myself. “Let’s do this.”
We made our way toward the massive lodge with music pumping. People were everywhere. At bonfires by the water, on the wraparound porch, inside.
We headed up the front steps, and I was aware of the four guys at our back. Everyone turned to stare as we entered the house, and I fought the urge to squirm.
Declan dipped his head to whisper in my ear. “How about something to drink?”
I nodded. “Maybe a soda?” It was my first party, and alcohol didn’t seem like a good idea.
He smiled. “Sounds good.”
Declan led me over to a bar area with every kind of alcohol imaginable. He grabbed two Cokes from an array of sodas and handed me one. He clinked his can to mine. “Here’s to a night of firsts.”
I grinned. “Thanks for bringing me.”
“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
I caught sight of movement out of the corner of my eye, but it was too late. The red solo cup was already airborne. A thick, red, sticky substance that resembled punch coated my entire body.
Chloe’s eyes flashed with mock-apology. “Oops. I tripped.”